RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Androgens can cause the growth of prostate cancer cells. Antihormone therapy, such as goserelin, may stop the adrenal glands from making androgens. Giving radiation therapy with or without goserelin after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain after surgery. It is not yet known whether radiation therapy is more effective with or without goserelin in treating prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying radiation therapy and goserelin to see how well they work compared with radiation therapy alone in treating patients who have undergone surgery for recurrent or refractory prostate cancer.

Compare the efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy with vs without concurrent goserelin, in terms of biological and/or clinical progression-free survival, in patients who have undergone surgery for recurrent or refractory prostate cancer.

Secondary

Compare overall survival of patients treated with these regimens.

Compare metastases-free survival of patients treated with these regimens.

Compare the immediate and delayed toxicities of these regimens.

Compare the delay in reaching the prostate-specific antigen nadir in patients treated with these regimens.

Compare the quality of life at 1 and 5 years after radiotherapy in these patients.

Compare the functional dependence at 1 and 5 years after radiotherapy in patients age 75 years and over.

OUTLINE: This is an open-label, randomized, parallel-group, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

No geographical, social, or psychological condition that would preclude study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics

No prior hormonal therapy

No prior pelvic radiotherapy

No prior surgical or chemical castration

At least 6 months since surgery for biological recurrence

No other concurrent anticancer therapy

Contacts and Locations

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For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00423475